With All Due Modesty . . .

Winston Churchill was said to have remarked of Clement Atlee, “Mr. Atlee is a very modest man. Indeed, he has a lot to be modest about.” The jibe, I believe, became famous because of its penetrating power among those who--like myself, and you too, I’ll bet--would like to be famous not only for their talent but their humility about it all. Ouch! 

Along those lines, it was my niece, or perhaps one of my daughters, who once asked me if I was a famous man. Of course, one does wish not wish to deny it outright before the child, risking the pleasure of basking in her guileless adoration—and yet one wishes to show condign humility as well. After brief consideration I told her that I was well-known in a small circle of people. I thought this a clever answer, for it was both unquestionably true (of me and everyone else), but provocatively left the definition of “small,” and what I might be famous for, open. “Ah,” one hopes the innocent might conclude, “he’s being modest—for by ‘small’ he doubtless means, ‘small relative to the entire population of heaven and earth.’ ”

If I had been thinking in a truly humble way, however, I would have answered, “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter, for the only one whose opinion counts is God—he’s the only person one should care about being famous with. And I already know his opinion of me: he’s not impressed.” That’s also true, but on a higher level, bidding fair to keep those who believe it truly humble.

Merry Christmas, Friends!  

Comments

[Steve Nicoloso]

Moses is said, in a book attributed to him, to have been the humblest man ever!

[David Deavel]

Joseph Epstein was asked the same question by one of his grandchildren. His response was, "Yes, I'm somewhat famous, but nobody seems to know who I am." (I quote from memory).

[William Rush]

You wrote: " .. the only one whose opinion counts is God ... And I already know his opinion of me: he's not impressed."
And yet, he loves each of us as if there were no other to love! How strange! How very Christmas!

[Ethan Cordray]

Like the Weird AL song, "Amish Paradise":

Think you're really righteous? Think you're pure in heart?
Well I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art!

[Sherry Early]

Merry Christmas to all here. May your blog long endure--in humility, of course.

[BA]

St. Francis of Assisi used to admonish his Friars: "You are who you are before the Lord, and no one else!"

[Rob Grano]

T-Bone Burnett from "The Trap Door":

"Funny thing about humility, as soon as you feel humble, you're no longer humble.
Funny thing about pride, when you're feeling proud, you should be ashamed."

[Nick]

Might that also be presumptuous since it supposes the Mind of God?

[smh]

Nick, I'm not presuming on God's opinion, but am as certain of it as I can be of anything, quite apart from any prophetic effusion: "So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you [and who has done that?], say, "We are unworthy servants . . . ." And not only this, but the assertion corresponds to what is a necessary realization for all who know themselves as existing under the eyes of a holy God.